The branch has had an enquiry from someone writing a book detailing the life of a man named John Black who instigated the beginning of a town in Queensland, Australia, called Townsville, in 1864. Previous local historians have his early life as being in Bolton, stating that he was born there in 1830 and also went to school there. His father was Dr James Black, who was at the Manchester Hospital and the Bolton Dispensary at that time, notably around 1830 as uncovered in Dr Black’s Obituary.
If anyone has any information on Dr James Black and family in the Bolton area for the 1830’s to early 1840s, in particular regarding John Black’s schooling, please could you contact the branch by email (boltonhistory@aol.com) and we will pass it on.
Historical Association Bolton Branch 